Trichomonas vaginalis Metronidazole Resistance Is Associated with Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the Nitroreductase Genes ntr4Tv and ntr6Tv.

Paulish-Miller TE1, Augostini P, Schuyler JA, Smith WL, Mordechai E, Adelson ME, Gygax SE, Secor WE, Hilbert DW.

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Abstract

Metronidazole resistance in the sexually transmitted parasite Trichomonas vaginalis is a problematic public health issue. We have identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in two nitroreductase genes (ntr4Tv and ntr6Tv) associated with resistance. These SNPs were associated with one of two distinct T. vaginalis populations identified by multilocus sequence typing, yet one SNP (ntr6Tv A238T), which results in a premature stop codon, was associated with resistance independent of population structure and may be of diagnostic value.